February 9, 2005

SEC. MIKE JOHANNS: "Well, let me start out and just offer a few thoughts, and then I'll take a couple of questions, and then I'm going to head out to a luncheon.

"I did have an opportunity to speak with the Canadian minister. I appreciated that opportunity. One of the things that I believe it's important to recognize is that Canada is the very key trading partner. There's no doubt about it; if you look at the statistics, U.S. exports to Canada were $9.7 billion last year. The U.S. market is the largest for Canada accounting for about $11.5 billion.

"We did talk about a variety of topics that I do want to just mention. We talked about the importance of successful Doha negotiations. We did talk about beef trade and the importance of returning to a normal trading relationship. Top priority we both agreed upon was the importance of protecting human health and animal health and making sure that our decisions are based upon science.

"We also emphasized how much we appreciated their cooperation. As you know, we have had a team in Canada here for literally since I came, and that was not the first one. Canadian officials continue to be very, very cooperative with our needs.

"This was the first of I suspect what will be a number of meetings between he and I. I look forward to future meetings. I look forward to a good working relationship, and today I think was a good start.

"Now I'll take a Question or two?"

QUESTION: "Mr. Secretary, is the March 7 deadline still on track?"

SEC. JOHANNS: "As I indicated to the hearing, the March 7 deadline is still there, and we're working our way toward that deadline."

QUESTION: "Mr. Secretary, is there any change in the March 7th --"

SEC. JOHANNS: "Well, as I've indicated both publicly and before the Committee, there is an area of the rule that I'm looking at. And I promised the Committee I would do that and am doing exactly that."

QUESTION: "Mr. Secretary, is the rule about (inaudible)?"

SEC. JOHANNS: "Probably what I would do on that question is send you to the legal team if you don't mind."

USDA: "One more question."

QUESTION: "(off-mike)"

SEC. JOHANNS: "It's the issue of the over-30-month animals relative to the importation of meat from animals over 30 months. And as many U.S. senators pointed out during the hearing, they saw that as an inconsistency in the rule. I indicated to them that it was one of the things that I literally started working on, you know, from the start. It's a complex issue. And so -- but I did promise them I'd look at that. So I have, and will continue to do that.

"One last question right there."

QUESTION: "Mr. Secretary, what is your assessment (unclear) effectiveness of the Canadian feed ban and, separately, what is the next step (unclear) you are looking for is the sign that Japan is serious about reopening?"

SEC. JOHANNS: "I thought the decision this week by Japan was a good decision. I appreciated it. I expressed that publicly. I continue to look forward to that day where we set a date and literally work toward that date for the resumption of trade. Here again with the Japanese, this is an enormous trading partner. We've had an outstanding relationship with our friends in Japan for a long time. And there's every reason to believe that that will continue in the beef arena. So my hope is that we can now focus on a specific timeline, and I expressed that. And that's where I hope we're headed."

QUESTION: "(off-mike) feed ban?"

SEC. JOHANNS: "Oh, on the feed ban? We have a team up there, and they're reporting what they're doing -- to me -- and looking into the very issues that we said we were in terms of the effectiveness of that feed ban and how it's working. And Dr. DeHaven after the hearing indicated that at least on a very, very preliminary basis the issues that were there were mostly recordkeeping. So that's very preliminary. I emphasize that's very preliminary. That's the words he used after the hearing.

"And I would not have anything to add at this point in time. Thank you all."